“The three most important principles that have served me well in these endeavors are: 1) Make sure you have an idea that meets a need in the marketplace and then as you develop the institutional framework, continue to evaluate and critique what you have created so that you can refine and improve your program. 2) Find the best people to work with you both as professionals and as a lay board. You cannot achieve excellence unless you build a team of outstanding people…”

…..Karen Sher, senior program associate with the Millstone Institute, said she’s been impressed by Schwarz, who in 2007 was named one of the 50 most influential rabbis in North America by Newsweek.

“I read his book and found it to be extremely relevant to where we are today as a 21st Century Jewish community,” she said. “He has insights not just in one particular area of the community but several – synagogue life, arts and culture, social justice. I think anyone who attends will find it relevant.”

“It’s Passover week, the time when Jews retell our foundational story about how we, a tribe of Israelites, moved from slavery in Egypt to freedom in our own land. It’s a very particular story; it defines who we are. We’re MOTs, members of the tribe.

Now along comes Rabbi Sidney Schwarz to tell us that the next generation of American Jews will be post-tribal…”

“More than a year ago, Sid Schwarz, Adat Shalom Reconstructionist Congregation’s founding rabbi, and Indonesian Ambassador to the United States Dino Djalal began discussing a potential interfaith mission that would bring together religious clergy from the U.S. and Indonesia…”